Tourindia, India

Finalist, Community Benefit Award 2010

Tourindia is a tour-operator established in 1972 and based in Trivandrum, Kerala, India. The company offers cruise tours on former cargo-boats that have been converted to houseboats into the backwaters of Kerala with authentic cuisine cooked onboard and stories to tell by old boatmen. Some 150 years ago, 12,000 cargo-boats were in operation - the backbone of the backwater economy. By 1990, due to infrastructure improvements, the number had declined to only 200. Under the leadership of Tourindia 650 cargo-boats have been restored to date turning them into comfortable tourist vessels, thus providing livelihoods to the local communities and re-establishing the traditional arts of roof-making and boat-making. It has revitalised the economy of the backwater community, giving direct and indirect employment to thousands of people.

Judges' Verdict
Through an innovative business approach, Tourindia has not only saved a long-standing tradition of cargo-trade in Kerala's backwaters on so-called 'kettuvallom' boats, but also stimulated direct and tangible benefits with a great multiplier effect to the local communities living along these rivers. Having restored old cargo-boats, converting them into cruise vessels, Tourindia has brought back to life the almost lost tradition of the cardamom and pepper spice trade, as well as traditional roof-thatching and boat-making.

Tourindia has chosen a community rather than a top-down approach, encouraging locals to become entrepreneurs in a network of Tourindia-operated houseboats. Tourindia provides ongoing training in communication skills (English, German and French), hospitality skills (as cooks, guides, waiters, etc) as well as business skills to locals, thus generating direct employment for 2,500 people on some 650 houseboats.

"The team of Tourindia, with 37 years of experience in the hospitality industry, creating new dimensions to tourism as a responsible business and a challenge feels greatly excited about its acknowledgement from the WTTC Awards. Our dedication and determination to excel in the Kerala tourism scenario against all odds has finally given results."
Babu Varghese, Proprietor, Tourindia